YORKTON — A new publication from the local legion is helping preserve veterans' stories for future generations.
The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 77 has released a second volume of its Lest We Forget book, building on an earlier edition first published in 2005.
Past president Ken Gordon said the project was driven by renewed community interest in the original book and a desire to ensure more local stories are recorded.
"We had a lot of people asking about the first book, but it was no longer available," Gordon said. "So we decided not only to reprint it, but to create a second volume with many more stories."
Both books highlight Yorkton and the surrounding communities' veterans, featuring photographs and personal histories that detail their service and lives.
Gordon said the second volume reflects a shift in how those stories were gathered, with many now coming from family members rather than the veterans themselves.
"In the original book, many of the veterans were still able to tell their own stories," he said. "Now, those stories are often being shared by their families, which makes it just as meaningful."
Many of the profiles are also tied to the legion's banner program, which sees images of local veterans displayed along Yorkton streets each fall. Those tributes have now been compiled into a permanent format.
"These stories are now in print and they'll be there forever," Gordon said. "That's important for families and for the community."
He added that the books offer residents across the region a way to connect with their local history, whether through relatives or broader community ties.
"It's about remembering where we came from and the people who served."
The Yorkton Legion initiative is unique to the branch, although similar recognition projects exist at the provincial level.
Gordon noted the local books focus specifically on east-central Saskatchewan, giving them a distinct community perspective.
"For Yorkton, Melville and all the surrounding communities, this is about keeping those memories alive," he said.
Both volumes are available for purchase through the legion.
